Mandible
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Bone: Mandible | ||
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| Mandible. Outer surface. Side view | ||
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| Mandible. Inner surface. Side view | ||
| Latin | mandibula | |
| Gray's | subject #44 172 | |
| Precursor | 1st branchial arch[1] | |
| MeSH | Mandible | |
The mandible (from Latin mandibŭla, "jawbone") or inferior maxillary bone is, together with the maxilla, the largest and strongest bone of the face[citation needed]. It forms the lower jaw and holds the lower teeth in place.
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[edit] Components
The mandible consists of:
- a curved, horizontal portion, the body. (See body of mandible).
- two perpendicular portions, the rami, which unite with the ends of the body nearly at right angles. (See ramus mandibulae)
[edit] Articulations
The mandible articulates with the two temporal bones at the temporomandibular joints.
[edit] Injuries
Mandibular fractures are often accompanied by a 'twin fracture' on the contralateral (opposite) side.
The mandible may be dislocated anteriorly (to the front) and inferiorly (downwards) but very rarely posteriorly (backwards).
[edit] See also
- Bone terminology
- Terms for anatomical location
- Changes produced in the mandible by age
- Ossification of the mandible
[edit] Additional images
 Front |
 Mandible |
 Gray181.png |
 Facial bones |
 Lateral |
 Dorsal |
 Side view of the skull. |
 The skull from the front. |
 The veins of the neck, viewed from in front. |
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- SUNY Labs 34:st-0203 - "Oral Cavity: Bones"
- Diagram at uni-mainz.de
This article was originally based on an entry from a public domain edition of Gray's Anatomy. As such, some of the information contained herein may be outdated. Please edit the article if this is the case, and feel free to remove this notice when it is no longer relevant.
